We have been watching the weather, and keeping up with the radar, etc. We will be there tomorrow as planned. To us, living in this area, it's just another wintery Sunday lol. BUT YOUR SAFETY IS VERY IMPORTANT TO US. If you can't make it, we understand. The way I look at it, I wouldn't mind being stuck at a place full of chili and beer. LOL.
IM SO DANG EXCITED FOR TOMORROW!!
Some last minute donations came in, so what you have seen pictured on this websites home page, silent auction 2024 link, that is only maybe 1/2 of what we have for you. The rest will be a surprise. 😎. We have 18 registered Chili's, we have people busy today baking for the free will donation bake sale. (Faith, Carmen and Kathy) I am making batches of Spanish rice, and cheesy garlic mashed potatoes. (Chili is so good over mashed potatoes). If anyone would rather have white rice, let me know and I'll do that too. There will be crackers provided, as well as onions, jalapeños, cheese, and sour cream, Kristi is busy making corn bread muffins today. Jason is perfecting the beautiful trophies, and I'll be putting the winners prize packages together, and making a vegan/vegetarian chili (not to be judged). I don't want anyone left out!
If you are bringing a chili, you can come anytime after 1 pm to set up. Doors open to the public for the cook off at 3 pm. If you come closer to 3, you may want to have it warm already. We will provide plug ins and extension cords.
Our schedule of events will look something like this:
3:00 pm Sample cups of each chili will be brought up to the judges
3:15 pm Hailey (Spencer's sister) will make a couple announcements and introduce Spencer Strong, your fantastic panel of judges, including the director of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Sam. She will say a few words about AFSP, what they do, and how they help. She will also mention details for the Out of the Darkness 2024 walk from the Scheels Arena.
5:45 pm Last call for silent auction bidding
6:00 pm Winners will be announced. There will be a 1st place, a 2nd place, and a third place determined by our judges. You will be given a blue ticket at the door when you come in. After you have sampled and eaten all the chilis you want, please put your blue ticket in the green cup in front of your favorite chili. This will determine The People's Choice winner!
Also at this time, we will gather all of the winning bids for silent auction items. Jason will be set up there to help everyone check out for their items won. *This year, we will be able to run credit/debit card as well.
7:30 pm We all go home.
And just like the last chili cook off in 2022, when I got home, I laid right down and I cried happy tears, knowing I'm fulfilling the promise I made to Spencer through prayer the night we lost him, that I would keep his name alive, and do all I can to help others know that they are not alone. I was so overwhelmed by our community, with hundreds of people showing up, interacting with people, smiling faces all around. We raised over $4000 for our efforts for AFSP in Spencer's loving memory that day. My heart was so full. And I know Spencer would be so very proud.
Suicide doesn't not discriminate. Rich, poor, ethnicity, fame.... It's the biggest killer in people under the age of 35. It is more deadly than cancer. Men are three times more likely to take their lives. It's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue it's deadly rampage, unless we stop and take notice.
SUICIDE IS NOT SELFISH. Suicide is, normally death caused by depression/anxiety/social phobia's/isolation. It is the final symptom. A final collapse under unbearable weight. Suicide is a tragedy. If you have never been close to that edge, please try hard not to judge what you cannot understand. Just be kind. Have the hard conversations. Reach out for help. If u feel you have no one to turn to, turn to me. I have two ears and one mouth, meaning I'll listen more than I'll talk.
Respectfully,
Andrea L. Alm
Spencer's mom
Here's a couple random pic of Steve, just to make u smile! (This was Steve channeling his inner Billy Idol)
